Title
Code
Level
Credit rating
Pre-requisites
Type of module
Aims
Learning
outcomes/objectives
Content
THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS OF ENDOCRINOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY
AND ONCOLOGY
PY352
6
30 Points
PY252 and PY243
Extensive, Semesters 1 and 2
•
To understand the physiology, pathology and therapeutics in
endocrinology, dermatology, oncology and immunology gaining a
sound understanding of the mechanisms by which different
pharmacological agents can modify these processes and manage
disease.
•
To instil in students the concepts of evidence-based therapeutics
and to help students integrate this knowledge with details of the
patients case history, the results of simple diagnostic tests and the
pharmacology and chemistry of endocrine, anti-cancer and
immunomodulating drugs, to enable them to evaluate drug therapy
and design.
On completion of this module the student should be able to:
1. demonstrate a systematic and coherent knowledge of the endocrine
system, autacoids, oncology and autoimmune diseases.
2. to associate common symptoms with relevant pathological
conditions and understand the aetiologies of various endocrine and
autoimmune diseases and cancers.
3. to discuss the rationales underlying the use of pharmacological
agents in these organ systems and drug delivery systems
associated with them recognising the potential for drug interactions
to occur on the basis of pharmacological knowledge and
discriminate between them in terms of clinical importance.
4. critically evaluate data from a variety of sources (case history,
clinical trials data, diagnostic testing) and utilise this knowledge to
exercise judgement to evaluate drug therapy.
Theme 1 -The Physiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics of the
Endocrine System
Lectures 1-2
Introduction to the endocrine system (PG)
 Comparison of nervous and endocrine systems
 Definition of a hormone
 Gross anatomy of the endocrine system
 Mechanisms of hormone action
 Characteristics of hormones
 Control of the endocrine system
Lectures 3-5
The pituitary gland (PG)
 Anatomy of the pituitary gland
 Synthesis and actions of the posterior pituitary
hormones
 Synthesis and actions of anterior pituitary gland
hormones
 Drugs affecting pituitary gland function
Lectures 6-8
The adrenal cortex (PG)
 Anatomy of the adrenal cortex
 Synthesis, actions and disorders of glucocorticoids
 Synthesis, actions and disorders of mineral
corticoids
Lectures 9-11 Steroid chemistry (GO)
 Structure activity relationships
Lectures 12-14 The Thyroid (PG & MCA)
 Anatomy of the thyroid gland
 Synthesis and actions of thyroid hormones
Lectures 15-18
Lectures 19-21
Lecture 22
Lecture 23
Lectures 24-26
Lectures 27-29
Lectures 30-31
Lectures 32-33
 Disorders of thyroid function
 Drugs affecting thyroid gland function
Control of fertility (PG and AMcA)
 Male and female reproductive endocrinology
 Female hormonal contraception
 Hormonal treatment of female subfertility
 Male hormonal contraception
Drug delivery systems – transdermal (systemic)
(AHL)
 Structure and functions of the skin
 Transport of drugs through the skin
 Transdermal formulations and devices
 Transdermal drug delivery (systemic) –
patches/gels
Drug delivery systems – buccal (AHL)
Drug delivery systems – vaginal and uterine (AHL)
 Pessaries, vaginal ring, IUD
Drug delivery systems – parenteral (AHL)
 Routes
 Formulations
 Incompatibilities and interactions
 Sustained release injections and implants
Genetic disorders of the endocrine system (KJB)
 What is a genetic disorder
 Types of genetic disorders and their inheritance
 Genetic disorders of the endocrine glands: their
inheritance and pathophysiology
Calcium homeostasis (MCA)
 Regulation-vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and
calcitonin
 Disease pathology
 Treatment strategies
Drug delivery systems (AHL)
 Intranasal delivery - calcitonin
Theme 2: Autacoids
Lecture 34-35
Inflammation (MCA)
 Type 1-anaphylaxis
 Type 2-antibody dependent cytotoxicity
 Type 3-comples mediated hypersensitivity
 Type 4-cell mediated hypersensitivity
Lecture 36
Autacoids (MCA)
 Autocoids and inflammation
Lecture 37-38 Pharmacological interventions (MCA)
 Treatment of allergy
 Therapeutic uses of prostaglandins
 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
 COX-2 inhibitors
 Leukotrienes antagonist
 Glucocorticoids
Lecture 39
Drug delivery – rectal (AHL)
Lectures 40-41 Drug delivery – ophthalmic (AHL)
Lectures 42-43 Gout (MCA)
 Acute and chronic gout
 Therapeutic strategies
Theme 3: Dermatology
Lectures 42-47 Diseases of the skin (AMacA)
 Infections and infestation
 Psoriasis, acne and rosacea
 Eczemas and drug eruption
 Lumps, bumps and skin cancer
 Common foot conditions
 Headlice and other common conditions
Lectures 48-49 Drug delivery – transdermal (local) (AHL)
 Formulation and production of creams, lotions and
ointments
 Wound dressings
Practical work Formulation of topical preparations eg creams,
ointments, lotions (6 hrs)
Theme 4: Oncology
Lectures 50-51 The control of cell division and proliferation (KJB)
 What is cancer
 Control of the cell cycle
 Differentiation and stem cells
Lectures 52-53 The causes and development of cancer (KJB)
 Mutations
 Properties of cancer cells
 Environmental causes of cancer
Lectures 54-55 Oncogenes and tumour suppressors (KJB)
 Viral oncogenes
 From proto-oncogene to oncogene
 Tumour suppressors
 Linking mutations and tumour progression
Lectures 56-57 Oncology (MCA)
 Neoplastic proliferation
 Tumour classification-benign or malignant
 Metastasis
 Leukaemia and lymphoma
 Teratomas
 Melanomas
Lecture 58
Sunscreens
Lecture 59-60 Cancer therapy (MCA)
 Tumour markers
 Therapy –phase non-specific and phase specific
 Combination therapy
Lectures 61-63 Chemotherapeutic agents (MCA)
 Alkylating agents
 Antimetabolites
 Natural products
 Hormones and hormone antagonists
 Monoclonal humaised antibodies
 Anti-growth factor drugs
Lectures 64-65 Combination therapy (MCA)
 Combination therapy types
 Radiation and radiopharmaceuticals
 Clinical case examples
Theme 5: Immunity, Autoimmunity and Immunosuppressants
Lectures 66-68 Immunity and autoimmunity (SEG)
• Definitions
• Descriptions
• Examples
Lecture 69
Type I diabetes (JM)
• Mechanism
• Therapy
• Differences to other autoimmune diseases
Lectures 70-71 Rheumatic diseases(SEG)
 Normal vs arthritic joints
 Inflammatory responses
 Pain ladder
 Arthritis types
Lectures 72-73 Rheumatoid arthritis treatment (SEG)
 NSAIDS
 Corticosteroids
 Cytotoxic agents
 Disease modifying antireuhmatic drugs
 Monoclonal antibodies
Lectures 74-75 Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (SEG)
• Characterisation
• Other systems involved
• Treatment options
• Latrogenic SLE
Lectures 76-77 Multiple schlerosis (MS) (JGM)
 Characterisation
 Other systems involved
 Treatment options
Teaching and learning
strategies
Learning support
Module team: JM: Dr Jon Mabley. PG: Dr Paul Gard AMcA: Dr
Angela MacAdam. MCA: Dr Marcus Allen. KJB: Dr Katrin JennertBurston. AHL: Dr Angela Lansley. SEG: Mr Stewart Glaspole
The material will be presented by formal lectures (approximately 77 hrs)
and associated practical assessment (6 hrs) and will be supported by
guided study (approximately 217 hrs) utilising guided reading.
Texts (current editions)
Review of Medical Physiology, Ganong, W F, Appleton & Lange.
Anatomy and Physiology, Thibodeau, G A and Patton, K T, Mosby.
Pharmacology, Rang, H P, Dale, M M, Ritter, J M, and Flower R.
Churchill Livingstone.
Medical Pharmacology at a Glance, Neal, M J, Blackwell Scientific
Publications.
Human Pharmacology, Gard P R, Taylor and Francis.
Human Endocrinology. Gard P.R. Taylor and Francis.
Students will be directed towards current articles in the pharmaceutical
and medical press and encouraged to read widely to instil an
appreciation of evidence-based practice.
CAL packages (current editions)
Drug Targets and Transduction Systems, Sewell, K, Coleman, I PL,
Morgan, R, Hollingsworth, M, Foster, R W and Walker, J, PharmaCAL-ogy.
G-protein Receptors as Drug Targets, Sewell, K., Coleman, I., Morgan,
R., Hollingsworth, M., Foster, B. and Walker, J., Pharm-CAL-ogy.
Pharmacology of Inflammation, Dewhurst, D, Brain, S, Freeman, P and
Ullyott, R, Pharma-CAL-ogy.
CD-ROM (current editions)
Assessment tasks
Brief description of
module content and/or
aims (maximum 80 words)
Area examination board to
which module relates
Module
team/authors/coordinator
Semester offered, where
appropriate
Site where delivered
Date of first approval
Date of last revision
Date of approval of this
version
Version number
Replacement for previous
module
Field for which module is
acceptable and status in
that field
Course(s) for which
module is acceptable and
status in that course
School home
External examiner
The Dynamic Human, Jacobsen, C, Mosby.
Interactive Pharmacology, Dale, M M, Cunnane, T C, Purves, R and
Haylett, D G, Blackwell Science.
Consists of coursework (practical write-up) (LO 3) which will be worth
20% of the module mark and a 3 hr exam consisting of MCQ (40%) and
short answer questions (60%) (LO 1-4) worth 80% of the final module
mark.
This module covers endocrinology, dermatology, immunology and
oncology examining the regulation and pathology of these systems.
The module examines the way drug therapies are designed and
delivered to modulate the activity and target specific pathologies of the
various system. This module extends the pathophysiological and
pharmacological knowledge and understanding acquired in earlier
course-specific modules as well as highlighting specific drug delivery
systems optimised for the physiological systems being targeted. The
module is designed to provide knowledge and skills underpinning
professional pharmacy practice at a basic level.
Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Dr JG Mabley and other School staff
1 and 2
Moulsecoomb
2008
2008
1
PY234
Pharmacy, Compulsory
MPharm. Compulsory.
Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
Professor J Neill